Railway brake



c. E. TACK ETAL 2,399,071

RAILWAY BRAK Filed' Sept. 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 1& g lwqlww M .Q .L.// 75 i April 23-, 1946.

, QN. b mm .3 mm 8 C. E. TACK ET AL April 23, 1946,

RAILWAY BRAKE Filed Sept. 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w WW mm Q WM @N Y mm y @N l 1 April 1946' GE. TACK ET'AL 2,399,071

RAILWAY BRAKE Filed Sept. 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet z Y Patented Apr. 23, 1946 Ri-IISSUED JAN 2 i948 Our invention relates to railway brake mechanism and is illustrated in an embodiment utilizing a four wheel passenger car truck. Our invention is more particularly concerned with the application to railway ca disc brake arrangement means is supported from the truck frame for engagement with rotor discs carried on the supporting wheel and axle assemblies.

RAILWAY BRAKE Carl E. Tack and Wesley A. Helsten, Chicago, 111., assignors to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 6, 1943, Serial No. 501,363 14 Claims. (Cl. 188-59) r trucks of a practical 5 wherein, clasp brake ure 5.

parable to the view of Figure 1 illustrating a torque arm connected to the equalizer on the side of the brake support-remote from the adjacent wheel and axle assembly.

Figure 6 is a sectional view in the transverse vertical 'plane indicated by the line 6-8 of Fig- Figure 7 is a sectional view approximately in y the transverse vertical plane indicated by the line The general object of our invention is to de- 10 l-'| of Figure 5, and Figure 8 is a sectional view vise a rotor braking arrangement for a railway car truck which will be existing types of trucks generally applicable to and will suitably meet form of connection.

Describing our novel structu comparable to Figure 7 illustrating an alternate re in detail, our

the existing manufacturing standard requirebrake arrangement is illustrated as applied to a ments, such as clearance conditions, standards of four wheel car truck of conventional form utilizstrength and the like.

A more specific object devise such a brake utilizing an independent brake support associated of our invention is to with each wheel and 'I'he side rail axle assembly and conveniently supported from jacent each end thereof for reception of journal the equalizer normally utilized in the common type of passenger car truck. i

Our novel structure contemplates an arrangement wherein the brake supports may be supboxes as indicated at It (Figure 2, right) within which may be carried in usual manner the journal ends of the supporting wheel and axle assemblies l4, l6. Intermediate each. wheel and the ported intermediate the wheels and may-be re- 2 adjacent transom may be supported a brake supsiliently carried from the equalizers at opposite sides of the truck, to which equalizers may also be connected a torque arm at one side of the truck or at both sides as may be desired. As

port generally designated i8, each of said brake supports comprising a main transverse member 18, here illustrated as circular ure 2), said transverse member supporting at in section (Figillustrated, said torque arm may project toward each end thereof a housing 20 enclosing clasp the adjacent wheel and from it as may be convenient with the particular truck structure utilized, but, generally speaking, the more suitable structure and lighter weights may be utilized when the ward the adjacent wheel In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one side of a railway our invention, the other thereto.

Figure 2 is a side view arrangement shown in Figure 1, the right half thereof being in elevation of being in section along the vertical longitudinal 1 plane bisecting the truck.

the adjacent equalizer.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view comaxle assembly or away and axle assembly.

car structure utilizing half being symmetrical of the truck and brake and the left half therebrake mechanism of a form more particularly described in detail in Tack co- .Serial No. 421,418, filed in the United States Patent Office December 3, 1941, now Patent No. torque arm projects to- 5 2,355,120, issued Aug. 8, 1944.

The brake support l6 may have at each extremity thereof an end bracket 22, the depending leg 24 of which (Figure 4) may have a horizontal portion 26 secured between resilient pads 28, 28

which may be compressed between the bottom wall 30 of the spring seat casting generally designated 32 and the clamping piece 34 therebelow. The spring seat 32 may be seated on the adjacent equalizer 36, respective ends of which may pending application.

be supported on the journal boxes at opposite zontally projecting tor of which may have a ends of the truck in usual manner and as well illustrated at 40 (Figure -2, right). Integr'ally ,formed with the end bracket 22 may be the horique arm 42, the extremity flange 44 (Figure 3) received between top and bottom resilient pads 46, 46 which may be under compression between the horizontal web v.48 of the spring seat casting 32 and the adjacent clamping piece 50. Each spring seat 32 may afl'ord support for the adjacent side diagrammatically illustrated at the right of Figure 2.

Theclasp brake mechanism associated with shoes must hear. The advantages of such an arrangement are obvious inasmuch as the relative movement vertically of the transom and the wheel and axle assembly is relatively negligible each housing 20 may comprise inboard and outas compared with the condition which exists board brake levers 54 and 56 (Figure 1) fulcrumed as at 58 and ill respectively from the housing 2 0 and pivotally supporting at their projecting ends as at 62 and 64 brake heads 68 and 68 carrywhen the brake support is carried from the spring supported portion of the truck frame.

It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device ing hrake shoes to and 12 for engagement with shown which are merely by way of illustration the inboard and outboard friction faces of the adjacent brake rotor 14. The brake rotor 14 may .be mounted as convenient upon the adjacent wheel and axle assembly ll.

The-modification illustrated in Figure 5 is gen- 15 erally similar to that just described, including the member I 02 of the brake support with the housing I04 carrying the clasp; brake mechanism, as already described. In this modification, how

and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

a 1. In a brake arrangement, a truck structure comprising spaced wheel and axle assemblies, unsprung equalizers supported thereon, spring seats on said equalizers adjacent each assembly, a

ever, the end bracket Ills is somewhat difierent g truck frame spring-supported from said seats from that described for the previous modification, and particularly in that the torque arm I08 thereof projects toward the adjacent transom H0 and so in the reverse direction from that described for the previous modification. The details of the connection between the brake support I02 and the equalizer N2 of the modification now under consideration are well shown in the detail of Figures 6 and 7 wherein it may be seen that the transand including spaced transoms, and brake mechanism including brake supports carried from said seats intermediate each assembly and the adjacent ti'ansom, said brake mechanism being independent ofsprung portions of said truck structure, each of said brake supports comprising clasp brake -means with brake shoes for" engagement with rotatable means on the adjacent assembly, and each of said brake supports having at each verse member 12 has e integrally f rm d n 39 end thereof spaced resilient connections to the bracket I06, 8. horizontal portion of which may be .under compression as at I between the top and bottom resilient pads H6 and H8 which may be secured between the clamping piece I24 and the adjacent seat, one or said connections being in the vertical plane of said support.

. 2. In a-brake arrangement, a truck structure comprising spaced wheel and axle assemblies,

horizontal web I20 01 the spring seat casting equalizers supported thereon, spring seats '05 generally designated I22. Said pring seat casting I22 may support springs diagrammatically indicated at I26, I28 upon which may be carried the adjacent side frame in conventional manner said equalizers adjacent each assembly, springs on said seats, a truck frame including spaced transoms supported on said springs, and brake mechanism including rigid elements supported andas already described for the preceding modiii- 1mm Sam seats intermediate each assembly and cation. The spring seat casting I22 may seat upon the equalizer H2 and be fixed thereto in any convenient manner.

The torque arm I08 may have an end portion the remote plates may be fixed to intumed flanges 53 I42; I42 integrally formed with the "spring seat casting I22. As an alternate the torque arm I08 may be connected as, illustrated in Figure 8 wherein it is shown as incorporating an end flange I30 secured between the resilient means "2,132

under compression between the clamping piece I34 and the horizontal web I36 of the adjacent portion of the spring seat I22.

In both of themodifications i1lustrated,'it will be clear to those skilled in the art that we may 0 utilize a torque arm at each end of the brake support or we may utilize a torque arm at only one end of'the brake support. In the latter case all oi the torque would be taken in only one equalizer, of course, at one side of. the truck and only under certain conditions would this be advisable. Under other circumstances a torque arm would be used at each end of the brake support.

Tothoseskilledintheartitwlllbereadily apparent that we have devised a brake arrangement wherein the brake support carrying the brake shoes is supported from the equalizers which are unsprimg members as also are the wheel. and axle assemblies on which are carried the brake drama or discs against which the brake 75 torque armsproiecting towardsaid assembly and the adjacenttra'psom, said brake mechanism and elements being independent of sprung portions of I40 (Figure 7) with the thickening pad I 45 engagement with rotatable means on the war cent assembly, and each of said elements havin spaced resilient connections to the adjacent seat, one or said connections being in the plane of said element and the other being intermediate the element and the adjacent assembly.

3. In a brake arrangement, a truck structure comprising spaced wheel and axle assemblies, equalizers mounted thereon, spring seats on said equalizers adjacent each assembly, springs on said seats, a truck frame with .spaced transoms carried on said springs, and brake mechanism ineluding brake supports resiliently supported from said seats below the level of said springs intermediate each assembly and the adjacent transom and independent of said frame, each of said supports carrying clasp brake means withshoes for engagement with rotatable means on the adjacent assembly, and each of said supports being resiliently connected at spaced points to at least one of the supporting equalizers.

4. In a brake arrangement .for a railway car truck, a truck structure including a wheel and axle assembly, equalizers thereon, a truck frame spring-supported from said equalizers, and a rigid brake element resiliently supported from said equalizers intermediate the wheels and carrying .-brake shoes for engagement with rotatable means on said assembly, said element having porting brake shoes engaging opposite sides of rotating means onsaid assemblies, each of said brake elements comprising a main transverse member resiliently connected at spaced points to each of said unsprung members, one of said connections being approximately in the plane of said transverse member and the other thereof being spaced therefrom longitudinally of said truck.

6. In a railway car truck, a wheel and axle assembly mounting brake drums, unsprung truck members carried thereon and supporting spring seats, springs on said seats, a frame member on said springs, and braking means including a rigid support resiliently mounted at. spaced points from each of said unsprung members independent of said frame member and carrying clasp brake means for said drums, one of said points being in the plane of said support.

7. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising spaced wheel and axle assemblies with braking surfaces, equalizers supported from said assemblies, springs on said equalizers, a truck frame mounted on said springs, a brake beam extending transversely of said truck adjacent each assembly, means on the inboard side of each equalizer resiliently supporting at spaced points the adjacent end of said beam, and friction means carried by said beam for cooperation with the braking surfaces of the adjacent assembly, said points being below the level of said springs.

8. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising awheel and axle assembly, unsprung members supported therefrom, spring seats on said members, a truck frame resiliently supported from said seats, a brake beam resiliently supported at spaced points from respective seats substantially below the level of said axle, said resilient supports constituting the sole mounting means for said beam with respect to said truck, and braking means carried by said beam for decelerating rotation of said assembly.

9. In a brake arrangement, a truck structure comprising spaced wheel and axle assemblies, equalizers supported thereon, spring seats on said equalizers adjacent each assembly, springs on said seats, a truck frame including spaced transoms supported on said springs, and brake mech-- anism including rigid elements supported from said seats intermediate each assembly and the adjacent transom, said brake mechanism and elements being independent of sprung portions of said truck structure, each of said elements supporting clasp brake means with brake shoes for engagement with rotatable means on the adjacent assembly, and each of said elements having spaced resilient connections to the adjacent seats, one of said connections being in the plane of said element and the other being intermediate the element and the adjacent assembly, both of said connections being below the level of said springs.

10. In a brake arrangement, a truck structure comprising spaced wheel and axle assemblies, equalizers mounted thereon, spring seats on said equalizers adjacent each assembly, springs on said seats, a truck frame with spaced transoms carried on said springs, and brake mechanism including brake supports resiliently supported from said seats below the level of said springs intermediate each assembly and the adjacent transom and independent of said frame, each of said supports carrying clasp brake means with shoes for engagement with rotatable means on the adjacent assembly, and each of said supports being resiliently connected at spaced points to at least one of the supporting equalizers, one of said points being in the plane of said support.

11. In a brake arrangement for a-railway car truck, a structure including wheel and axle assemblies, unsprung truck members connecting said assemblies, sprung truck members aflording support for an associated car body, and braking means mounted on said unsprung members independent of said sprung members, said braking means including a rigid brake element supporting brake shoes engaging opposite sides of rotating means on one of said assemblies, said brake element comprising a. main transverse member resiliently connected at spaced points to each of said unsprung members, one of said connections being approximately in the plane of said transverse member and the other thereof being spaced therefrom longitudinally of said truck in the direction of the associated wheel and axle assembly. 12. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a structure including wheel and axle assemblies, unsprung truck members connecting said assemblies, sprung truck members affording support for an associated car body, and braking means mounted on said unsprung members independent of said sprung members, said braking means including a rigid brake element supporting brake shoes engaging opposite sides of rotating means on one of said assemblies, said brake element comprising a main transverse member resiliently connected at spaced points to each of said unsprung members, one of-.said connections being approximately in the plane of said transverse member and'the other thereof being spaced therefrom longitudinally of said truck in the direction of the remote assembly.

13. In a railway car truck, a wheel and axle assembly mounting brake drums, unsprung truck members carried thereon and supporting spring seats, springs on said seats, a frame member on said springs, and braking means including a rigid support resiliently mounted at spaced points from each of said unsprung members independent of said frame member and carrying clasp brake means for said drums, one of said points being in the plane of said support and both of said points being below the level of said springs.

14. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck comprising spaced wheel and axle assemblies with braking surfaces, equalizers supported from said assemblies, springs on said equalizers, a truck frame mounted on said springs, a brake beam extending transversely of said truck adjacent each assembly, means on the inboard side of each equalizer resiliently supporting at spaced points the adjacent end of said beam, and friction means carried by said beam for cooperation with the braking surfaces of the adjacent assembly, both of said points being below the level of said springs and one of said points being in the plane of said beam.

CARL E. TACK. WESLEY A. HELSTEN. 

